May 16th, 2013 by otto_pjm
Following the most recent CNC Class, which I think was a great success on many levels, I was inspired to make a project that has been on the back burner for awhile. I want to use a CNC to make some furniture. I’ve been inspired by the work of Gregg Fleishman, and as a starting point I cutout a scale model of one of his designs.
April 26th, 2013 by otto_pjm
Learn how to use a CNC router to cut 2D and 3D objects out of a variety of materials. TC Maker has 3 CNC routers available at the Hack Factory, come and learn how to use them and start making your own awesome stuff!
The class will have two parts (Machine Check-out, and CAM gcode creation) with the machine introduction and check-out scheduled for 1pm – 5pm Saturday and the CAM workshop from 10am – 2pm on Sunday.
Intro to CNC Class Sign up here. It’s $45 for the 2 days of class
January 17th, 2013 by otto_pjm
Learn how to use a CNC router to cut 2D and 3D objects out of a variety of materials.
The classes will be held on February 2nd and 3rd. CNC Introduction and Check-out on Saturday, and CAM / gcode creation on Sunday. The schedule will be 10am – 4pm both days. Intro to CNC Class Sign up here. It’s $25 per class / day or $40 for both classes.
VERY IMPORTANT! if you want to be able to generate your own gcode (so you can cut out something you want) you will need to take both classes, The CNC introduction class is just to demonstrate safe and proficient use of the machines, and everyone will be cutting a pre-selected file that I have prepared. To cut your own creations you will need to take both classes,
Intro to CNC, CNC overview and safe use check-out
Attendees will be provided a 2D gcode file, and need to demonstrate proficiency, by safely cutting the part on the machine.
Intro to CAM, 2D and 3D Computer Aided Machining (CAM)
Attendees will be given an overview on how to use 2D and 3D CAM software to generate the gcode or tools paths that the CNC machines use to cutout parts. Please see the important notice below on how to acquire the software before class so you are ready to go!
October 5th, 2012 by otto_pjm
I’ve been wanting to try this for sometime, and finally had my setup mostly ready and the right materials. A Lithophane is an image etched into something translucent. In my case I used LinuxCNC, which runs my CNC router, and includes a script called Image-to-gcode, that creates a gcode height map based on the color or light to dark variations in an image. The material I used is 1/2″ Corian.
The original picture is this one of my son at the beach.
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January 22nd, 2012 by otto_pjm
Carving a skateboard mold prototype in foam. The mold itself will be made of laminated lumber to support the pressing process. This test was to determine what bit and step over (the overlap of each pass of the bit) would achieve sufficient detail, and not require too much finish sanding. The process and pattern for finishing is like an ink jet printer, but it cuts each pixel in 3D.
It may not be readily apparent in the photos of the carving, but the board has pretty complex compound curves. I’ll include a shot of the model which illustrates this better after the break.This is a shot of the roughing pass being completed. The test chunk is about a 1/3 of the skateboard’s total length, and the foam was a bit undersized so the board is a bit wider than what the foam could capture.
July 16th, 2011 by otto_pjm
As you may know the Hack Factory is expanding, and as such is in need of some storage racking, and key shop tools. The intention is to shop auctions for the best values on these items.
We hope to fund these items from donations as the organizations funds are committed to covering expansion related costs. So here’s where you come in. If you have any of the items Twin Cities Maker needs, and are willing to donate them that’s fantastic. please see the list of needs, at the details link, and fill in the form outlining what you have, and the logistics help needed to deliver or pickup the items.
If you are willing and able to donate funds to support purchasing these items please use the donation form in the details link
This expansion equipment drive is a targeted event to collect infrastructural equipment to support the expansion, it is not intended to equip the Hack Factory with a full set of tools but rather to pave the way for a variety of tools and activities. Think of this as the roads, gas and electrical infrastructure of a town, you need these first so that people can setup shop and get to work.
Adopt a tool details and donation page
July 4th, 2011 by otto_pjm
I am swapping out the driver boards on my CNC Router, and my existing power supply of 42 VDC is too high for the new drivers which include voltage regulators with a maximum voltage of 36 Volts. I rather liked my supply, just a big transformer, a bridge and a capacitor with bleed resistor, so I decided to try and keep it.
I started by seeing which of the windings I could get at easily, turned out none, was the answer. The Transformer is built with hundreds of “E” shaped plates that are fit together from opposite directions to form the transformers core, so with a bit a trepidation I removed the bolts and began to remove the “E” plates in search of a winding I could easily access.
After quite a bit of plate removal I was able to access the input (120V) windings, and after an poorly thought out whiteboard session I decided that was what I needed, reduce the input windings to bring the final voltage down.
May 14th, 2011 by otto_pjm
[Update]
The weather did not cooperate, so we were inside for Make Day 2011. It was still a great time, I took a few pictures, but the hall was a bit dark for my phone camera, hopefully someones got more and better shots, here a quick visual recap, with pre-work on the t-shirts and treb-Foshay tossed in.
Thanks for stopping by, and if you know a Maker type, please tell them about our Member Drive.
April 24th, 2011 by otto_pjm
I’m a bit of a curmudgeon about holidays, I enjoy the days themselves, it’s the hoopla around them I can do without. My wife on the other hand is all about the hoopla, the more the better, so this post is Anne’s edible Easter creation for 2011.
The whole coop of chicks
April 22nd, 2011 by otto_pjm
[UPDATE:] Hit the more link, for the latest molding and casting triumphs and failures.
Here’s the latest, my sincere thanks to Bil, Swinkdaddy, and Jude in particular for sharing their knowledge and helping me learn how to do this stuff.
LED bottom disc mold
April 20th, 2011 by otto_pjm
Added some shots of the evening to the Flicker pool, including two of the rainbow I saw driving over, tried to get shot of it over the HackFactory, but it had clouded up by the time I got there.
Rainbow over Franklin Ave, enroute to the HF
Or see the link on the right hand side.
Activities included thermoforming, playing with fire, talking and casting RTV, which I have no shots of. I also added the latest shots of some 10x components.
Pete
April 6th, 2011 by otto_pjm
We’ve been making progress on the Global Hacker Space Challenge components. There are lots of activities going on, on different aspects of the project, and we are exploring multiple methods to create many of the parts. This is an image of a test cut for the positives of some 10xed 3mm LEDs.
The video is of a cut that went not so well of a 10x ATMega chip. I had neglected to restore my backlash compensation settings after making some updates, and the Z-axis lost height through out the cut making a sloped chip, and turning chunks of my spoil board into fine powder.
Pete
February 27th, 2011 by otto_pjm
A big thanks to Bil who scored a metal storage system that was being scrapped. I took the liberty of re-organizing the metal area to fit it in.
Pete
New metal storage rack
December 17th, 2010 by otto_pjm
In an effort to capture an overview of the projects going on at the Hack Factory and introduce some of the TC Makers who have had less online exposure due to being more stuff than bits people here is the first of a likely irregular series of the Wednesday Night Roundup.
In no particular order here are some of the people and projects happening on Wednesday December 15th. ( I took lots of pictures, most were bad, and a fair portion completely unusable hopefully things will go better next time, similarly I’m easily distracted and the HF is known for having not only lots of shinny objects, but also squirrels, so my understanding of the details, or even the general idea of the projects maybe incorrect )
In the Classroom / Lounge area:
Steve was starting on
an Arduino project
using input from a pneumatic ,
or perhaps hydraulic sensor.
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Jim was also working on an Arduino project, he had mouse positional information controlling a servo with some high tech coat hanger apparatuses attached to it. The goal as I understand it is to use visual feedback to allow the servo to balance the contraption.
(more...)
December 5th, 2010 by otto_pjm
I’ve had a wizard to do Dovetail joints for awhile and never had a reason to use it until now. We need some drawers built for an odd sized cupboard, and as you may know the HF recently received a pallet or two of drawer sides as a donation. So it seemed like a good time to check out the wizard and try and make some drawers.
Here’s a shot of the setup,
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It’s kind of a pain as you need to operate on the edge of the board. I built my latest table in two pieces so I could do dovetails and put the 4th access I hope to build under that part of the frame.
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December 4th, 2010 by otto_pjm
[Update]
Due to the weather the class will be rescheduled sometime in January. The User Guide is ready for review, I’m trying to figure out how to get it posted at the moment.
Who:
This class is primarily targeted at TC Maker member, who wish to use the CNC Router. The intent is to give practical step by step use and operation instruction. The public is welcome to attend, but due to the focus on one specific system and the time limitations general questions about CNC systems and tools will only be addressed as time allows.
What:
CNC Router user operation training class, allows you to use the router to work on your own projects
Where:
The HackFactory
When:
Sunday December 12th from 9:00 AM to Noon.
What you’ll need:
Nothing really, you may want to take notes, (I hope to have a rational step by step guide put together, but holes will certainly exist) also laptop’s (or classroom PCs) with design tools to create 2D or 3D object maybe useful. (formats such as EPS, dxf, stl, etc)
Non-members and those interested in CNC, but not wishing to run a CNC Router
I intend to have additional Cut, Turn and Burn classes in 2011, and these are the forum for general questions and will deal with the end to end process turning ideas into physical objects.
Pete
September 30th, 2010 by otto_pjm
A Class Featuring 3D Printing on the MakerBot, CNC Routing, CNC Lathe turning, and possibly Laser etching will be held on Saturday October 16th from 1-4 PM at the Hack Factory.
Please Register on Eventbrite so we can plan accordingly.
Bring your ideas, CAD files, pictures, and questions. The class is open to everyone. For non-members, a donation of $5 to cover materials is suggested. We will strive to make the class relevant to the interests of those present. The class will include an overview of basic creation of g-code files, (The instructions that the CNC systems understand) by various means in the classroom, and demonstrations of how the various systems interpret the g-code to produce objects.
The intention is to keep things as interactive and hands-on as possible, if you have electronic media with your ideas, pictures, cad files please bring them. If you have CAD software (anything that can produce a dxf file), Vector Graphics Software (Illustrator, Inkscape) or 3D Design software (anything that can produce an stl file) on a laptop bring it along.
We’ll do our best to get your ideas into your hands, please be aware that the materials, tools, tooling, and time available may not allow us to produce all items.
[Update] Pyrodogg, took some great pictures during the session, check the TC Maker flicker group for more.
Pete
Donate via GiveMN.org (tax-deductible):
